Issues and Questions about Money

There are hundreds of questions or issues surrounding money. We tried to address some of the more common issues or frequently asked questions or below.

1. I need financial help

The Relative Caregiver Program (RCP)

Provides emergency or start-up financial help annually if you meet the requirements. In order to qualify, you must:

• Be related to the child by blood, marriage or adoption;
• Live in the area that the program serves;
• Be below 200% of the federal poverty guideline. For more information about the federal poverty guideline, visit Health and Human Services.

You can't:

• Be receiving a type of kinship payment. However, you can get the Families First child-only or regular grant;
• Be the relative placement for a child in the Department of Children's Services (DCS) custody.

For more information, call your RCP family advocate/case manager. Read more about the Relative Caregiver Program to find your area's RCP.

Families First Regular Grant

Families First is provided by the Department of Human Service (DHS). It gives temporary cash payment to low-income families. Some people call it TANF, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. You can usually only stay on Families First for 18 months at a time, and no longer than five (5) years in your lifetime. The grant is $95 a month for 1 person; $142 a month for 2 people; $185 a month for 3 people; $226 a month for 4 people; and $264 a month for 5 people. The program also provides support services like child care, transportation, and health insurance. In order to qualify, you must:

• Be working full-time, in school or participating in educational training to stay eligible for this program. The work requirements and time limits don't apply for caregivers over 60 years old and disabled persons.
• Have a child in your household who is under age 18, or 19, if he or she is still in high school.
• Cooperate with the child support agency. They will try to get child support from the parents. You may or may not get the child support they collect.
• Be a relative in the 5th degree of relationship to the child who is living with you. This includes grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, and first cousins. This relationship can be by blood, marriage or adoption.
• Not have resources over $2000. If you own a home, this is not included in the resource limit. If you own a car that is valued under $4600, this is not included in the resource limit.
• Make sure that the children are in school regularly, including kindergarten.
• Make sure that the children get their immunizations.
• Sign a personal responsibility plan (PRP) that explains what you will do in order to keep Families First.
• Apply at your area DHS office. You will need to bring proof of income (i.e. check stubs, W2 form), birth certificates of household members, social security cards of household members, utility bills, and rent payment receipts. If you are in school, you will also need to bring a copy of your class schedule that shows the number of your credit hours. DHS will double your credit hours to include study time. If this amount is less than 40 hours, you will need to work or participate in educational training.


• For more information about the Families First regular grant, read Families First Programs or read Legal Aid's Families First Guide. Or visit Department of Human Services.
• Check www.govbenefits.gov.
• Or visit AARP Guide to Public Benefits for Grandfamilies.

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2. I don't qualify for Families First because of my income.

Families First Child-Only Grant

The Families First child-only grant is provided by the Department of Human Services (DHS). This grant gives monthly payments to children who live with a relative caregiver. This payment is more than the Families First regular grant payment. The grant is $140 a month for 1 child; $192 a month for 2 children; $232 a month for 3 children; $242 a month for 4 children; and $291 a month for 5 children. Your income is not counted like with the Families First regular grant. Only the child's income matters. The child must:

• Be living in the home of a relative within the 5th degree of relationship. This includes grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, and first cousins. You can be related by blood, marriage or adoption.
• Be a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen.
• Meet certain income requirements.
• Not have resources over $2000. This does not include a home he or she may own, or a car under $4600.

For more information about the Families First Child-only grant, read Families First Programs. Or call 1.866.311.4287 or visit Department of Human Services.

Limitation:
The child-only grant increases in small increments for each additional child. You don't get $140 for each child.

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3. If I don't get more financial help, my relative's child will have to go into DCS custody.

FF Kinship Care Pilot Program (FFKC)

This program is a partnership of the Department of Children's Services (DCS) and the Department of Human Services (DHS). The purpose of the program is to prevent children from entering into state custody when a relative is willing to care for a child, but are not financially able to continue caring for a child. Currently, the program is not statewide. It is available in the Davidson, Shelby and Upper Cumberland regions. The DCS grant is $160 a month for children 0-11 years old and $190 a month for children 12-18 years old. You get this amount for each child. Eligible relative caregivers can get these monthly payments in addition to the child-only grant.

For more information on FFKC, contact Robert L. Matthews, Director of Kinship Support Network:

Kinship Support Network

Robert L. Matthews Director of Kinship Support Network Tennessee Department of Children's Services 436 Sixth Avenue North Nashville, TN 37243 615-253-2342 Fax: 615-253-1717 robert.l.matthews@state.tn.us

Limitation:
Currently, in order to get more financial help DCS requires relatives to sign a statement saying that the children they are caring for are at-risk of entering DCS custody. Signing this form does not mean that you have done anything wrong.

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4. Even with help I get, I can't afford to care for my relative's child.

DCS custody/Kinship Foster Care

This is when DCS has legal custody of the child, but the child lives with you. This option is not available to everyone. It is only available if DCS is involved with a child. If DCS removes a child from his or her home, they must search for a relative placement first. One of the first jobs of DCS is to prevent the child from coming into custody. Therefore, they may try to give legal custody or permanent guardianship to you. DCS policy requires that they give you a brochure and explain the legal and placement options available to you. If you would like to keep the child, but are not financially able to do so, you should make sure that DCS explains how you can do that if the child is in your legal custody or in DCS custody.

If the child stays in DCS custody, and DCS and you decide that the child will live with you, you must become a certified foster parent. In order to become an official foster parent, you must complete about 27 hours of Parents as Tender Healers (PATH) training. You must also have a satisfactory background check, home study, and physical by a health professional. You must also agree not to use corporal punishment on the child. DCS describes corporal punishment as physical discipline or spanking.

DCS will provide for the child's financial and medical needs, including dental and mental health needs. DCS will also provide other support services for you and the child. You will provide for the child's daily needs. Once you have been approved and have completed PATH training, you will get a foster care board payment. You will usually get between $450 and $600 a month for every foster child in your home. The exact amount depends on their age and if they have any special needs (i.e. disabled). If you are not finished with the PATH training and DCS places the child in your home, you will have to get the Families First Child-Only Grant. Also, DCS can help you with material assistance (i.e. bed, dresser), clothing, and additional financial needs for the child through something called flexible funding or DCS flex funds. Ask your child's case manager about financial help.

Because DCS has legal custody of the child, they are responsible for making all major decisions about the child, including medical and educational decisions. As long as the child is in the custody of DCS, they will have ongoing involvement in your family's life. This includes monthly home visits to check on the child. You will also have to regularly participate in DCS Child and Family Team meetings, Foster Care Review Boards, and court hearings about the child's progress and situation. If DCS believes that your home is not the best place for the child, they can take the child from your home. DCS will probably let the parents visit the child, and try to get child support from the parents.

For more information about kinship foster care, contact Julie Flannery, Director, Foster Care Adoption and Kinship Care, DCS at (615) 532-6351 or julie.flannery@state.tn.us.

If you want to become a DCS foster parent, contact Servella Terry, Director, Recruitment, Retention, and Support, DCS at (615) 532-5616 or servella.terry@state.tn.us.

Other States' Program:
Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia have subsidized guardianship programs. These programs give a monthly payment to relatives who have legal custody or permanent guardianship of children who have left foster care. These payments are usually around the amount that foster parents get. Tennessee has been approved by the federal Department of Health and Human Services to use foster care funds to try this program in Tennessee. However, this program is not currently offered in Tennessee. For more general information about subsidized guardianship, read General Fact Sheet. For more information about the subsidized guardianship pilot program that will take place in Tennessee, contact Robert Matthews, Director, Kinship Support Network, DCS at (615) 253-2342 or robert.l.matthews@state.tn.us.

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5. Are there any available resources provided by the federal government?

Earned Income Credit (EIC) or Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

This is an income tax refund program for low-income workers. The amount you get back depends upon your income and how many dependents you have. You don't have to have legal custody of the child, but the child must be your dependent. The child must have also lived with you more than half of the year. The child must also be under 19 years old or totally disabled. However, if the child is a full-time student, he or she can be under 24. For more information, visit http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc601.html.

Child and Dependent Care Credit is a program that gives families a tax credit if they paid for childcare while working or looking for work. The tax credit depends upon your income, number of dependents and how much you paid for childcare. You don't have to have legal custody of the child, but the child must be your dependent. For more information, visit Topic 601 - Earned Income Credit.

Child Tax Credit

This is a program that gives a tax credit of up to $1,000 per child. The child must be 17 or younger. You don't have to have legal custody of the child, but the child must be your dependent. For more information, visit Topic 606 - Earned Income Credit.

For more information about tax credits, visit IRS.gov.

Social Security Child's Benefits

These benefits are available to any child under 18 whose parent has died or qualifies for Social Security. The child can't be married. It may also be available if the child is 18 if he or she is a full-time student. For more information, visit Social Security.gov. Social Security may also be available for an 18 year old or older disabled child. The child must have been disabled before he or she was 22 years old. For more information, visit Disability Planner on the Social Security.gov website.

Social Security Retirement benefits for children

If you get Social Security retirement benefits, your adopted child or dependent grandchild can get benefits in some circumstances. For more information about children who may qualify under your retirement benefits, visit Benefits for your Children on the Social Security.gov website. For more information about Social Security retirement benefits, visit Qualify and Apply on the Social Security.gov website.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a monthly payment made to low income people who are 65+, blind or disabled. For more information, read Supplemental Security Income Brochure.

For more information from the Social Security Administration, visit Social Security.gov.

For more general information about government benefits, go to Social Security.gov.

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6. I would like to adopt my relative's child, but I am not financially able to do so.

If the child is in the Department of Children's Services (DCS) custody when you adopt, you may be able to get ongoing adoption assistance or non-recurring adoption assistance. Ongoing adoption assistance is a monthly payment. Non-recurring assistance includes help with legal fees and costs related to the adoption process.

Visit North American Council on Adoptable Children for more information about adoption. For more information about DCS adoption policies, visit Tennessee Department of Children's Services.

7. I am unable to pay for his college education.

If you adopt a child after his/her 16th birthday out of the Department of Children's Services (DCS) custody, the child can get financial help for college/technical school. If the child lives with you while attending college/technical school, DCS may provide housing help for the child if they approve the relative placement. Speak with your DCS case manager about this.

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8. My family needs food.

Department of Human Services (DHS) Food Stamp Program

This program gives helps low-income families who qualify to buy food. In order to qualify, you must meet certain income requirements. This depends on the size of your household. Working families can get food stamps as long as they need to and as long as they continue to qualify. Instead of coupons, you use a card that works like a debit card. You apply at your local DHS office. For more information, call 1.866.311.4287 or visit Food Stamps Program. Or go to the USDA Food Stamp prescreening/eligibility tool. This will help you see if you qualify. You may also find helpful, free booklets on the TennLegalAid.com website. Many of the booklets on TennLegalAid.com are available in Spanish too.

Limitation:
Currently, all food stamp programs in the United States include the relative's income to determine eligibility.

Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

This program gives food help and nutritional check-ups to children under five, low-income pregnant women and women with children with babies under one years old. The program gives caregivers vouchers to buy healthy food and drink like beans, peanut butter, baby formula, eggs, cheese, cereal, milk and juice. Relative caregivers may apply if they or the children they are raising qualify. If you get food stamps, Medicaid or Families First, you automatically meet the income requirements. For more information, visit WIC for area WIC offices and eligibility requirements or call 1.800.DIAL.WIC.

School Breakfast and Lunch Program

This program gives children from low-income families free or reduced meals at school. If your family gets food stamps, your child will automatically be eligible for free lunch. Contact your school for an application.

Read the Guide to Food and Nutrition Programs brochure on the Children's Defense Fund website.

Search the Food Category on TennHelp.com.

Call 2-1-1.

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9. My children need clothing.

Search the Clothing Category on TennHelp.com.

Call 2-1-1.

Contact your Relative Caregiver Program (RCP) or Department of Children's Services (DCS) case manager.

Shop on Tennessee's tax-free days. Shoppers are able to buy certain school supplies, computers and clothing tax-free for a specified period of time. For more information from the Department of Revenue, contact one of the following available sources:

Website: Sales Tax Holiday
E-mail: salestax.holiday@state.tn.us
Telephone: 800-342-1003 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., CST, Monday through Friday
(*There are special telephone hours during the Sales Tax Holiday.)

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10. I need help with material assistance (i.e. bed, refrigerator, stove).

The Relative Caregiver Program (RCP) helps with material assistance if you meet the requirements. In order to qualify, you must:

• Be related to the child by blood, marriage or adoption;
• Live in the area that the program serves; and
• Be below 200% of the federal poverty guideline. For more information about the federal poverty guideline, visit http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/.

You can't:

• Be receiving a type of kinship payment. However, you can get the Families First child-only or regular grant; and
• Be the relative placement for a child in the Department of Children's Services (DCS) custody.

For more information, call your RCP family advocate/case manager. View for your area's RCP.

Visit a Habitat Store, Goodwill, or Salvation Army for discounted items. Some local churches may help also.

Search the Homeless Category, Clothing Category, Money Category on TennHelp.com, or call 2-1-1.

If the child is in DCS custody, DCS will use flex funds to buy beds and other things a relative may need to care for the child. DCS flex funds are use to buy services and goods to help meet basic needs of children who are at-risk of coming into DCS custody or children in DCS custody.

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11. I need help with budgeting or credit issues.

Search the Money Category on TennHelp.com.

Call 2-1-1.

Call your Relative Caregiver Program (RCP) case manager/family advocate.

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12. I need help with my utilities.

Search the Transportation Category on TennHelp.com.

Call 2-1-1.

Tell your Relative Caregiver Program (RCP) case manager or family advocate. The family advocate may be able to make arrangements with the utility company to give you time to catch up on your bill. Also, the RCP provides emergency help once a year if you are eligible. In order to qualify, you must:

• Be related to the child by blood, marriage or adoption;
• Live in the area that the program serves; and
• Be below 200% of the federal poverty guideline. For more information about the federal poverty guideline, visit http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty.

You can't:

• Be receiving a type of kinship payment. However, you can get the Families First child-only or regular grant; and
• Be the relative placement for a child in the Department of Children's Services (DCS) custody.

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13. I need help with school supplies and expenses.

You may not have to pay for school fees and field trips if you are eligible for a fee waiver. If your child gets free or reduced lunch, you can get a school fee and field trip fee waiver. You may also be able to get a waiver if you meet certain income guidelines. For more information, read Legal Aid's School Fees Waiver Fact Sheet. Ask your child's school for a "Request for Waiver of School Fees.? If you are approved, you won't have to pay for things like school supplies needed in class, field trips during school hours, gym clothes, band instruments, cap and gown for graduation, or summer school. However, you still will have to pay for activities that happen after school or that are not for school credit. You will also have to pay fines for late library books or lost text or library books. When the school sends home letters asking you to pay for field trips or fees, write the child's name and "fee waiver? on the letter.

Shop on Tennessee's tax-free days. In August, Tennessee will hold its annual sales tax holiday. Shoppers are able to buy certain school supplies, computers and clothing tax-free for a specified period of time. For more information from the Department of Revenue, contact one of the following available sources:

Website: Sales Tax Holiday
E-mail: salestax.holiday@state.tn.us
Telephone: 800-342-1003 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., CST, Monday through Friday
(*There are special telephone hours during the Sales Tax Holiday.)

Call 2-1-1.

Search the Children's Issues Category on TennHelp.com.

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14. My child needs tutoring, but I can't afford to pay for it.

Call 2-1-1.

Search the Children's Issues Category and Youth Category on TennHelp.com.

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